According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 6.4 million US children aged 4-17 years have had attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosed. The percentage of US children diagnosed with ADHD has increased by 3 to 5 percent per year since the 1990s. Relatedly, the percentage of children in this age group taking ADHD medication also has increased by about 7 percent per year from 2007-2008 to 2011-2012. Some state Medicaid programs have implemented policies to manage the use of ADHD medications and guide physicians toward best practices for ADHD treatment in children. These policies include prescription medication prior authorization requirements that restrict approvals to patients above a certain age, or require additional provider involvement before approval for payment is granted.

This map examines features of state Medicaid prior authorization policies that pertain to pediatric ADHD medication treatment, including applicable ages, medication types, and criteria for approval. Read more.